# Left Atrioventricular Coupling Index Predicts Poor Prognosis in Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Single-Center Cohort Study

## TL;DR

This study shows that a new heart function measure called LACI can predict poor outcomes in heart attack patients.

## Contribution

The study introduces LACI as a novel and independent predictor of adverse outcomes in acute myocardial infarction patients.

## Key findings

- Higher LACI values were significantly associated with increased risks of major adverse cardiovascular events.
- The optimal LACI cutoff for risk stratification was found to be 0.257.
- LACI was independently linked to all-cause death, cardiovascular death, and stroke after adjusting for other factors.

## Abstract

(1) Background: The left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) is a novel parameter for evaluating cardiac function. This study focused on its association with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. (2) Methods: A retrospective cohort of AMI patients from Peking University First Hospital was enrolled. All underwent transthoracic echocardiography on admission for LACI measurement. The primary endpoint was MACE (a composite of nonfatal stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death). (3) Results: Among 843 AMI patients (62.07 ± 12.24 years, 77.94% male), the median LACI was 0.24 (IQR 0.18–0.33). During a median follow-up of 4.31 years, 151 patients (17.91%) developed MACE. The optimal LACI cutoff for risk stratification was 0.257. After multivariable adjustment, each standard deviation increase in LACI was associated with significantly elevated risks of MACE (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.02–1.34), all-cause death (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.05–1.35), cardiovascular death (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.10–1.61), and stroke (HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.05–1.43). (4) Conclusions: LACI is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in AMI patients and may serve as a valuable tool for risk stratification in secondary prevention.